The USS Shyrock sat motionless in space. The Intrepid class vessel was performing a passive sensor sweep of the area. Along with other vessels such as the USS Hornet, the Shyrock was on a complementary mission to the Hornet. It wasn't playing the diplomatic role, but the star charting one. Ensign Tucker sat quietly behind his work station in astrometrics, drumming his fingertips on the command console. His head lay in his left hand, as he continued to cycle through planetary classifications to assign the new worlds that had come in with the morning sensor sweeps. Nothing as usual. There were maybe one or two assorted nebulas and one planet which was in no way inhabitable. He continued cycling until one bit of information caught his eye.
STAR SYSTEM J-253
HIGH LEVELS OF NEUTRINO PARTICLES AND TACHYON PARTICLES
AUTOMATIC RECOMMENDATION TO CONTACT STARFLEET COMMAND
He kept scrolling down...
POSSIBILITY OF LIFE ON THIRD PLANET IN SYSTEM
Finally something worthwhile to report to the captain. Gathering the information on star system J-253, he left astrometrics.
Starbase 901...
Life as usual was carrying on the station. Aside from the holiday cheer that is. Between Marines going around caroling and yellow mice shooting electricity Garek thought he had seen everything. This took the cake, however.
"Do you think the tights are too much?" Kim Tycho asked, standing in Garek's doorway. She had her arms folded in front of her chest. The pompon on her red had with white trim fell down, hitting her in the cheek.
Garek stood up, taking in the full "figure" of the female in front of him. "Well, they do add a little something," Garek teased. His fiancee was dressed in curly toed elf shoes, red form-fitting stockings, a candy-cane stripped shirt and green short overalls. She volunteered to be one of the elves for Connor McCloud who would be playing jolly old St. Nick. "Are all the elves as fashionably dressed as you are? I might consider coming down and telling Santa what I might want for Christmas."
"Very funny," she teased. She walked over and the two gave each other a quick kiss. "So are we still on for dinner tonight?"
"You bet. That's assuming some teenager doesn't try to hit on you while you're in your elven outfit here."
Kim gave him a playful slap on the face. "You watch yourself," she said jokingly. "I'll see you later."
"Bye dear," Garek called after her. The smile sat on his face for a little bit as he looked over some of the greetings from friends he received via Federation Express.
[Commander Loran,] the comm channel spoke up, breaking his concentration.
He tapped his commbadge. "Garek here, go ahead."
[It's Kitara. I don't like bothering people on their time off but it's rather important. I need you to report to my ready room immediately.]
"On my way." Garek exited his quarters, tossing the PADD he had on his hand back on his couch.
Ready Room....
Captain Mallory was sitting on her couch with a cup of tea in one hand and a PADD in the other. "Garek, once again, I'm sorry to bother you, but this is very urgent."
"Not a problem. I understand how urgencies run," Garek replied. "What do we have."
"A pretty confusing message from the USS Shyrock. The Shyrock's one of those ships sent in with the Hornet to chart the space around here. It's an Intrepid class, and the Captain, one Chelsea Farmington is not known to be one to get her ship or crew into trouble. That's why this message troubles me." She handed the PADD over to Garek for him to read as she explained.
"We received this message approximately two hours ago from one of the communications relays a few lightyears away. Captain Farmington sends along the astronomical data that her ship gathered, along with a few messages and remarks and what not. One that sticks out is the information about star system J-253. According to the information gathered, J-253 lies here, in the Beta Quadrant a few light years away from the planet Pompey." She pointed to the right of the three planets on the sector map for the station.
"Now, this isn't enough to get me worked up. The problem I'm having is that after using long range scanners to try and detect the Shyrock, we've found nothing. It's as if the ship up and disappeared right in to space. No pun intended. I've contacted Starfleet Command and they're dispatching the Carnegie and Murphysboro to aid in the search, but they won't be here for another few days. The Hornet is also a few days out, and the Ronin is getting prepped for a mission of her own. Since we haven't received a replacement for the Arizona that leaves me in a tough spot." She looked at Garek.
"So..." Garek started. "Where do I fit in?"
"Well, I've tried contacting different business owners on the station. Let's say, ones with slightly higher profiles in the underground syndicate to help us since their vessels would have more sensory equipment on them. Amelia Donaghy is currently unavailable which lead me to Ashton Liteboughlt. He has ties to Jacen Klevin. I'm sure you've heard of him before."
"Right. Head of that massive trade organization. I've heard he's got more to that organization that meets the eye."
"It may be so, but I we can't worry about such things at that moment. Mr. Liteboughlt agreed to let us use his vessel to go out and gather some information as to the disappearance to the Shyrock. Nothing complicated Garek. Just go out and gather some info on this location. If anything 'smells' funny, get out of there. I'm letting you pick out the away team, but try and keep it small."
"You won't have a problem there. I guess I'll see you again in a few days Captain."
"Count on it," Kitara replied. Garek made his way out of the office to begin hunting for a motley crew to take with him.